Praying for God s Kingdom to Come.

Transcription

1 Praying for God s Kingdom to Come. Matthew 6:9 (KJV 1900) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Matthew 6:10 (KJV 1900) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Review: What does praying for God s kingdom have in view? It applies to God's internal Kingdom, that is, His spiritual reign of grace in the hearts of people; "Let thy throne be established in our hearts; let thy laws be administered in our lives and thy name be magnified in our walk." It applies to God's Kingdom in its future glory: "Let the Day be hastened when Satan and his hosts shall be completely vanquished, when thy people will be done with sinning forever, and when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power that God may be all in all." We are going to focus on the first view this evening. It applies to God's internal Kingdom, that is, His spiritual reign of grace in the hearts of people; "Let thy throne be established in our hearts; let thy laws be administered in our lives and thy name be magnified in our walk." I. The first implication in praying for God s kingdom to come is a recognition that He does not now reign over us as He ought to reign. A. Rather than to obey our sinful desires we are to show supreme allegiance and obedience to Jesus Christ. Romans 6:12 (ESV) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. B. The best way to overcome these sinful desires is through prayer. 1. We are to commit ourselves to God through prayer. 1

2 Romans 6:13 (ESV) Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. a. To present is to offer ourselves to the service of God. Romans 6:16 (ESV) Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? b. This making ourselves available to do the Lord s work and will is the essence of worship and service. (1) The offering of ourselves is a picture of old testament sacrifice. (2) As we present ourselves we are to be holy and acceptable. That is, we are to be people of true faith and practice. (3) This true offering of ourselves is what worship really is about. 2

3 2. This prayer is reflective of true change of heart and mind to do the will of our king. Romans 12:2 (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. C. This commitment is grounded upon our appreciation for God s kingdom. 1. First and foremost we should be thankful for being a part of God s kingdom. 2. God s kingdom cannot even be moved let alone overthrown. 3. It is full appreciation of and commitment to this kingdom that makes our worship acceptable in God s sight. Matthew 15:8 (ESV) This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 4. We are to worship God by respecting and fearing Him as our king. 3

4 II. Our role in the kingdom is to be priests. A. We are priests in offering up sacrifices for ourselves. Revelation 1:6 (ESV) and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 5:10 (ESV) and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Revelation 20:6 (ESV) Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. B. We are to be priests in offering sacrifices and interceding for others. Romans 15:16 (ESV) to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. III. The second implication is that we are battling the kingdom of darkness in this present age. Colossians 1:13 (ESV) He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, A. This darkness is preferred by the non-believer. John 3:19 (ESV) And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. B. This darkness is spiritual ignorance. Ephesians 4:18 (ESV) They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 4

5 Ephesians 4:19 (ESV) They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. Ephesians 4:20 (ESV) But that is not the way you learned Christ! Ephesians 4:21 (ESV) assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, Ephesians 4:22 (ESV) to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, Ephesians 4:23 (ESV) and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, C. This darkness feeds sinful acts. Romans 13:12 (ESV) The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. IV. The third implication is that we as believers should welcome His kingdom. A. We should be encouraged as we anticipate God s coming kingdom. Matthew 5:10 (ESV) "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Acts 14:22 (ESV) strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 2 Timothy 4:18 (ESV) The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. B. We should be focused as we realize the significance of His coming kingdom. V. Conclusion: Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 5